"You're improving," Thor's voice was a deep rumble like thunder, a warm smile on his face that reached deep into his eyes. Clint swallowed, readjusting his grip on the bars. It had been three months. Three months and he still couldn't stand on his own.
His spinal injury wasn't as bad as it could have been. The doctors had said so, all of them. The SHIELD medical staff, the Stark Industries staff, even the specialists Tony had brought in from god only knew where who prattled back and forth with Natasha in languages he wasn't sure he'd ever even heard before. He still had partial use of his legs, the remaining damage was inoperable. He'd taken what they had given him with his usual attitude; partial was better than nothing. He'd just have to work to walk again.
He needed to walk again.
It had taken weeks and two failed attempts at escape before SHIELD medical had finally discharged him. Looking back on it now, it was a bit mad to try to sneak out though the air vents. Where was he planning on going when he got outside, really? After the second time Tony had sent Natasha and a car for him along with his personal physician. Fury had been... well, furious. Stark basically ignored the director shouting at him through the phone and Natasha had loaded him in the wheelchair and pushed him out while Tony's doctor had bullied the medical staff. Clint had to give the guy props, but then, dealing with Tony Stark at his worst had to make anyone hard as nails.
He'd come home to warm smiles from Cap, and Bruce and a very severe eye roll from Coulson. Thor had clapped him on the shoulder so hard his teeth rattled, just like always. Tony had been nowhere to be seen but that was just like always as well. He'd overlooked it because there was a brand new, state of the art robotic assist unit in his suite and voice activation added to virtually everything in the tower, even the toaster. It was a bit ludicrous, really but Clint couldn't bring himself to be anything but grateful. For the moment he could pretend he was fine on his own, even if he wasn't really on his own.
He'd got up early the first morning and headed straight for the gym. Exercise sessions at SHIELD medical had been strictly regulated and he was convinced it was holding him back. He'd have to work to recover, he couldn't do that on bed rest.
Thor had been waiting for him.
Three months later and Thor was still there every morning, every evening. Even the middle of the night when Clint was dead sure no one in the tower was still conscious. Like a large labrador with a physical therapy degree the Asgardian was always there. Clint was beginning to think Thor was sleeping in the gym.
"Perhaps you should rest," Thor suggested. He was leaning easily against the bars, his arms folded over his chest. He was wearing that stupid Avengers t-shirt again that he'd bought off a street vendor in Union Square. He and Cap had a penchant for wandering out together to explore the city. Clint always thought it was a bad idea. One of them was enough to draw attention. The pair of them together was like a big neon sign that said; Caution, Super Heroes in Crosswalk.
"I don't need a break, I'm fine!" Clint answered more sharply than he intended. He winced but it didn't seem to bother Thor in the slightest.
"You're beginning to show signs of fatigue," Thor pointed out without judgement.
"I appreciate your help," Clint acquiesced, taking a deep breath and struggling to slide one foot forward. "but I'm fine." Thor didn't answer and Clint didn't look at him. He gripped the bars more tightly, gritting his teeth as he tried to force his left foot to move.
"When I was a boy I was mauled by a bilgesnipe," Thor declared finally. "I still bear some of the scars. I can remember my father racing home with me in his arms, my brother frantic and my mother incensed that father had been careless with my safety. For a while I do not think they believed I would make it and I can still remember hearing Loki crying in the next room. Afterward I felt guilty for having worried them so, for setting my brother to tears. I pretended that I felt better than I did, I hid the pain as best I could because I could not bear to think of them so aggrieved again on my account."
"Look, buddy," Clint began but Thor cut him off.
"A week after I was up and around Loki pounced on me from behind one of the doors as boys are wont to do, thinking I would carry him as I always did," Thor looked away uncomfortably. "My leg buckled and instead I tumbled down the stairs. When I came to myself Loki was at the top of the stairs sobbing himself sick and father was holding me, glaring at him scoldingly. As I think about it now, it might have been the point at which he believed our parents did not care for him as much as for me. Had I owned to the state of my injuries I know he would never have done such a thing."
"Nice story," Clint said, giving him a smile. "But I don't think you're going to go dark side on us if I face plant into the floor." Thor let out a chuckle and at that moment Clint felt his hand slip. Panic surged up in his chest as his feet slipped out beneath him, the floor surging up toward him. Thor had his arms wrapped around him before he could even gasp in surprise.
"You will rest," Thor declared seriously. "Or I shall call for Natasha."
"That is low, buddy," Clint answered with a scowl as Thor easily lifted him, depositing him in his wheelchair.
"It is necessary," Thor stated, the slightest smile on his face.
"Did Nat put you up to all this?" Clint asked in frustration, running his fingers though his hair. "Keeping an eye on me?" Thor knelt on the floor, sitting down and leaning back against the bench behind him.
"I am here because I choose to be, my friend," Thor replied. "I cannot offer you care or comfort or remarkable tools to help you, but I can give you this. This is my realm as much as any in this world."
"You'd kick my ass here anyway so it doesn't matter, right?" Clint asked with a hollow laugh. Thor only nodded, unperturbed by the question. He reached up to clap Clint's shoulder roughly before hauling himself to his feet and grabbing the chair handles.
"Come, we will make ourselves presentable to feast with our comrades," Thor declared, pushing him toward the door.
"Dude, it's pizza and beer," Clint shook his head, smiling in spite of himself.
When Thor left him alone in his suite, (and he'd insisted, he didn't need anyone's help to shower and change he could manage on his own,) he locked the door, pushing himself into the bathroom. For a long time he stared at himself in the mirror. Knots formed in his stomach and he bit his lip, fresh panic welling up inside of him. He wasn't getting better, he wasn't moving better, he wasn't healing, or learning to stand or even learning to adapt. His heart fluttered in his chest like a caged bird and he struggled to breathe, his vision tunneling.
He was on the verge of hyperventilating when there was a knock on his door.
"Do you wish me to return for you?" Thor asked, his booming voice only slightly muffled. Clint drew in three deep breaths, willing himself not to faint.
"I'm fine on my own, Thor!" He called back, wincing at the thin sound of his voice. He could hear chuckling and retreating footsteps and he scrubbed his face with his hands. He couldn't think about this. Hastily he washed up, changing into clean clothes and heading up to the living room.
"Pizza's here!" Tony called, from the hall behind him, balancing several delivery boxes. "Help me out here, Katniss." He deposited the pizza boxes in Clint's arms and grasped the wheelchair handles, rolling him swiftly into the living room.
"I feel like a shopping cart," Clint snapped irritably.
"Never get in between a man and his pizza," Stark advised, taking the boxes from him and shoving several folders to the corner of the desk as he spread out their dinner. "Dear god in heaven, Natasha what is this?" he demanded, staring into one the the containers.
"It's caesar salad, Stark," Natasha answered, rolling her eyes as she heaped salad and pizza on her paper plate. "It won't kill you."
"So long as I don't eat it," Tony observed. "Tell me, tell me you did not betray my faith in you by forgetting to order hot wings... again."
"You're such a child," she scowled, pointing at one of the containers. Tony pounced on it.
"Natasha, did you order wings?" Steve asked, striding into the room as he pulled his sweatshirt over his head.
"And breadsticks, and pasta for Thor," she sighed.
"Spaghetti!" Thor declared happily, thundering into the room, toweling off his hair. "truly the food of gods!"
"Knock yourself out, Point Break," Tony declared, handing Thor a box and a fork.
"Save me some!" Steve laughed as Bruce snagged the last slice of pepperoni. The alert went off before he could take a bite.
"You have got to be kidding me," Tony snapped, staring at the ceiling. Natasha let out a string of expletives in at least three languages. "On pizza night?"
"Bad guys have no respect for comfort food," Steve sighed, setting his plate aside. "Everybody suit up!"
"I'll fire up the quinjet," Clint nodded, wheeling his chair around and making for the door. It took him only moments to get to the hangar and start the launch sequence, belting himself into the pilot's seat.
"Let's go, Clint," Steve declared as Bruce stowed his wheelchair. The others belting themselves in.
"Yes sir," Clint nodded as Iron Man shot out in front of them from the launch balcony. "Everyone hang on."
They were in Queens in what seemed like moments and Clint shot low, easing down in a schoolyard.
"Get clear," Steve ordered, "Be prepared to swing in and pick us up if we get in over our heads." Clint nodded, gritting his teeth as he struggled to hide his irritation.
"What in the heck is this thing?" Steve's voice crackled over the com. Clint swung around, swooping past for a better look.
"Looks like a giant Jello mold," Banner's voice was a bit bewildered and Clint snorted.
"With teeth," he added. A bolt of green energy shot past his wing and he went into a roll. "And laser eyes."
"Stay out of range, Hawkeye!" Steve snapped. "If we toast another jet Fury's going to have kittens."
"Nothing I've got is making a dent in this thing," Tony growled. "Thor, what have you got?" A lighting bolt shot out of the sky hitting the creature.
"I've got... two now," Thor answered contritely.
"Well that was a good idea," Tony groused.
"Hulk smash!" Hulk's declaration was met by Steve's panicked negative and the sound of Natasha swearing.
"Thor stop him before that thing sucks him up like a lint roller!" Tony shouted.
"I can get a shot," Clint suggested, "I've got a clear run."
"It's too dangerous, Hawkeye," Steve protested.
"And there's no proof it'll do anything but make more jello monsters," Natasha added. Clint swung around, gnashing his teeth.
"We cannot stand by and do nothing," Thor insisted.
"Have you got Hulk contained?"
"Thor headed him off," Natasha answered. "I have him, we're hanging back."
"If we cut them down small enough maybe we can make a dent in them," Tony suggested.
"Clint, get clear on the east side. Thor hit the one on the left until they're down to size," Steve suggested. Lightening streaked though the sky as Clint pulled the jet out of the line of fire.
"We have a situation here!" Natasha shouted into her com.
"Cap, the second monster's heading straight for Hulk!" Tony declared, firing at the smaller Jello monsters Thor's lightning was creating.
"Clint, can you get them out of there?" Steve demanded, his shield smashing one of the creatures.
"I don't have anywhere to land," Clint shook his head. "Nat, can you two make it to the park at the end of the street?"
"Umm... no." He winced. Natasha's calm voice in a situation like this was never good. A laser beam shot out at them and Hulk let out a roar.
"I have a shot, I'm going to take it," Clint stated.
"Hawkeye, you're going to get hit!" Steve answered in panic.
"Look, it's the quinjet or Nat and Bruce," Clint stated, a deathly calm settling over him as his heart began beating its way out of his chest. "Call it, Cap!"
"If you get hurt, I'm going to let Natasha kick your ass," Steve growled.
"Yes Sir!" Clint swung back around, turing the quinjet to swoop in low over the street.
"You better hurry, Clint!" Natasha's voice was thin, nearly drowned out by the Hulk's roar.
Green lasers shot out at him clipping the wing of the quinjet and he was vaguely aware of Steve shouting in his ear. He dodged three more shots, ducking in low and letting off a round of short range mini missiles.
"And there's always room for Jello!" Tony whooped, shooting the smaller monsters. A larger one broke away from the group, shooting lasers at the quinjet and Clint let out a yelp as he lost control of one of the tail rudders. The quinjet went into a lateral spin and Clint struggled to stabilize it over Steven's shouts and Natasha swearing in his ear. He clipped the corner of a building and he spun wildly, the jet crashing into another building.
"Hawkeye!" Steve's voice was on the verge of hysterics. "Clint! Come on Barton!" Clint coughed, clawing at the restraints that felt as if they were choking him. Black smoke was filling the quinjet and he squinted, trying to get his bearings.
"I'm ok," he hacked out. He could feel fear settling like a stone in his stomach as the rest of the team were talking at once. He looked out through the cockpit shield, straight down at the pavement three stories below them.
"You're on fire, Barton!" Tony bellowed over the chatter on the com.
"Yeah I got that part," Clint swallowed, panic seizing him.
"Hawk get out!" Hulk bellowed.
"I'm working on it, Big Guy," Clint tried not to let his voice falter. He reached for the harness release but stopped. If he pulled the release he'd hit the cockpit shield, The spiderweb if cracks running through it testified to the fact that it wouldn't survive the impact. The building settled and the jet slipped a few feet.
"Clint, pull the safety," Steve ordered. "Tony can swing in and pull you out."
"I can't." Clint's voice was hardly more than a whisper. "I... I don't have anything to brace against, I'll go through the shield." His head swam as he stared at his shattered console. He could brace his feet against the bottom panel, pull the safety and swing down. Only he couldn't. He couldn't brace his feet, he couldn't move them. He stared down at his boots, swearing under his breath as he tried to force them to move, his heart hammering wildly.
"Clint," Natasha's voice wavered slightly. "The flames have almost reached the left engine."
This was it.
He could hear Steve shouting at him, Hulk roaring, his ears ringing with it as sheer terror washed over him. Either the quinjet was going to blow with him in it, or he was going to get cut to ribbons and smash into the street. Head first; He probably wasn't going to make it this time.
"I'm sorry, Cap," he said, blood thrumming in his ears as he stared down at the ground. He should pull the safety, he should take his chances, he should. But knowing where that chance led last time, he couldn't make himself, he couldn't fall again, couldn't crumple on the ground in a heap.
"Clint!" Natasha shouted at him. He could almost feel the explosion before he heard it and he threw his arms over his face, shielding his eyes. A chunk of the cockpit blew free and he gasped as a bolt of lightening shot from the sky, separating the harness from the seat. He fell only a handful of feet before strong arms caught hold of him.
"I have you!" Thor boomed, grasping him around the chest.
"Get clear, Fabio!" Tony shouted. Thor shot out of range only seconds before the jet exploded.
"You are totally doing the paperwork for that!" Natasha declared angrily, her string of curses nearly drowning out Steve.
"Are you guys ok?" Captain America sounded far more winded than he should.
"We are both in one piece," Thor nodded, settling on a nearby rooftop. He lowered Barton to the ground gently, keeping a hand on his shoulder as he covered the com with his other hand. "Are you injured in any way?"
"I don't think so," Clint answered, gasping. He was surprised at the gentle way the thunder god soothed a hand over his back.
"Agent Barton appears to be unharmed," Thor added, relief in his tone.
"We've got the last Jiggler," Tony declared. "Lets get out of here."
"Yeah," Clint huffed out between ragged breaths. "I'll be around to pick you guys up in a minute."
"Natasha had Coulson call us in a lift," Bruce's strained voice chuckled. "Guys why am I covered in Jello monster?"
"You and Clint had a bad day," Natasha said sourly. "When we get home I'll beat him and tell you all about it." Thor laughed, thumping Clint on the shoulder.